"Dad, I went to ask. The old fermentation vats are well preserved. I inquired carefully, and the apprentices of the former master craftsmen of the Shen family are now in charge."
Shen Futang watched Chen Yang hand cigarettes to the security personnel. His son-in-law was daring and meticulous.
Normally, who would dare to go to the security room of someone else's factory for no reason? In those days, the factory security departments were staffed by trained militia, or simply by militia who carried real weapons.
Ordinary people still felt a sense of awe towards these security personnel.
"I'm relieved to know that the old fermentation vats are well preserved."
"They've built a factory on it, Dad. It's not that your son is useless, but there's no way to change it. No matter how we change it, it won't go back to being the old Shen family's winery."
Shen Futang cast a somewhat melancholic glance at the two-story building behind him. In his youth, the grand entrance with carved beams and painted rafters, and the scene of guests from all directions converging at the Shen family winery, could no longer be seen.
Times were progressing, and large Liberation-model trucks couldn't enter the front gate.
On the way back, no one spoke much. Everyone could see that the old man's spirits were not high.
"Why don't you just not go to Feishi with me? Take the children to accompany Dad. Seeing him like this, he must be feeling upset."
"Having the children around might distract him and help him get over this sooner."
The current baijiu market was still heavily controlled by the state. Although Xuanjiu was not a large winery, it was the number one winery in Qingyuan City.
Half of the baijiu sold in all state-run large stores and supply and marketing cooperatives in Qingyuan City was supplied by the Xuanjiu Winery. This alone was enough to support hundreds of workers in the winery.
Let alone the fact that the private economy was only just beginning to emerge, even in the 1980s, if the market for baijiu hadn't been controlled by policy, Xuanjiu would not have declined so rapidly.
To interfere with such a large baijiu factory, let alone that Chen Yang had no money now, even if he had money, he couldn't do it.
Acquiring state-owned factories was something that could only be done in the 1990s. Now, even with money, you couldn't do it, unless you wanted to be branded as embezzling state assets and end up with a couple of bullets.
"Okay, I won't be much help to you in Feishi anyway. Taking the children would just be a hindrance. I'll stay home and accompany Dad."
"Dad said he wanted to pass on his winemaking skills to me. I'll learn it at home, and then I'll personally brew wine for you to drink."
Shen Xue didn't refuse Chen Yang's kindness. She knew that her husband had to go out to pursue his career, and she was worried that the old man would be upset seeing the Shen family winery so changed. She wanted her to take the children to accompany her father.
"That would be wonderful."
"Then we'll brew some good wine. People say that when a daughter is born, her father buries a few jars of good wine in front of the door. This is called Nu'er Hong, and this wine must be drunk at the wedding banquet when the daughter gets married."
"We didn't have time when Yanyan was born. When she turns three, we'll brew it ourselves and bury a few jars of good wine in our yard."
Chen Yang pinched the chubby little face of the baby. She was getting sleepy after walking for a while and was drowsy in his arms.
"Daddy, Yanyan doesn't drink wine, it's spicy."
The baby, still awake, was listening. She used to watch Chen Yang and Grandpa drink happily and insisted on trying it. Chen Yang couldn't refuse, dipped a chopstick in it, and let her have a sip.
The baby was so spicy that she stuck out her little tongue to fan herself, but it was no use. She ended up crying from the spiciness.
The baby, known as a little foodie, had an item she disliked for the first time.
She didn't understand why Daddy and Grandpa drank so enthusiastically when the wine tasted so bad.
"It's not for you to drink, little foodie."
He ruffled his little padded jacket's hair, turning it into a wild mess. Chen Yang's ear was then pulled by his wife.
"She had her hair neatly styled, and you're being meddlesome, messing it up like a bird's nest."
As soon as she saw the baby's hair disheveled by the wind, Shen Xue was speechless. This guy, he couldn't take care of people properly and always caused trouble.
Seeing his precious little padded jacket being carried away by his wife, Chen Yang glanced at his son.
Chen Hao obediently brought his little round head closer. He knew that his father liked to pat his head.
"Alright, you're sensible."
"Dad won't play with you anymore, or your mom will say I'm causing trouble again."
Chen Yang held his son's little hand. Chen Hao was energetic and not sleepy, so he didn't carry him. He let him walk, hand in hand, slowly.
The little guy would occasionally pick a foxtail from the roadside to play with. Seeing his carefree appearance, Chen Yang couldn't help but pat his son's round head.
"Dad won't be home for a few days. Listen to Mom, okay?"
"When Dad returns from Feishi, I'll bring you and your sister some delicious food."
After picking up their luggage from the guesthouse, Chen Yang saw his family onto the bus. The old man didn't want to stay in Qinghe after seeing the current state of the winery, fearing he would be overcome by emotion.
Chen Yang didn't say anything. He was going to Feishi tomorrow anyway, so it was just a matter of one more night.
"Dad, I'll listen to Mom."
"Mm, and..."
The little guy scratched his head shyly, his two big eyes looking at Chen Yang with anticipation.
"And what else?"
"And, can you bring back more snacks? I want snacks every day."
"Okay, you little foodie, I'll satisfy you."
Chen Yang was helpless. He thought he had some big request, but this little guy was so uninspired.
"Be careful on the road. Come home soon after you return from Feishi."
Shen Xue tidied Chen Yang's collar, which had been messed up by him holding the baby earlier. After speaking, she secretly kissed Chen Yang on the cheek when no one was looking.
Then she ran onto the bus without looking back. The old man, covering his slightly warm face, thought he had lived long enough to see his wife be the first to kiss him proactively in public.
Indeed, the old man's big heart was beating faster at that moment.
Love, indeed, could always make one's adrenaline surge, no matter the time.
"I'll be back!"
The bus started. Chen Yang waved vigorously at Shen Xue, who was at the window.
Only after the bus had disappeared from view did Chen Yang snap back to reality.
He didn't return to the guesthouse. He went directly to the "Dream Radio" shop. It was still early, and he had nothing to do, so he went to help out at the shop.
Shamefully, he, the boss, hadn't been to the shop properly except for the first day of opening.
When Chen Yang arrived at the shop, Lei Baoguo was already skillfully learning to sell radios from Lin Erdi. Surprisingly, despite his rough appearance, he was learning quite adeptly.
Of course, most of the time now, it was a seller's market. As long as there was a slightly enthusiastic salesperson, even if they were a bit unfamiliar, people wouldn't be too picky.
Unlike in later generations, where businesses employed all sorts of marketing tactics that customers were tired of, and they would pick and choose to their hearts' content.